Sony Xperia S: 12MP, DLNA, NFC, PlayStation certified, 1080p

first when I saw it, I fall in love with it.
the device have 1.5GHz Dual core Processor with 1Gig RAM and Adreno 220 GPU, isn't sounds awesome........???
and let me tell you if you are interested in playing games,,, this mobile is PlayStation certified...

experience Multi-touch means you can use both hand fingers to play with it, hell yeah...
capture image with 12MP Exmor R (4000x3000) and video recording in 1080p@30fps with back camera and 720p@30fps with 1.3MP front facing camera,,, isn't enough to carry on in the move,,, on the go,,, anywhere,,, in the journey,,, in vacation,,, in office,,, or in party,,, any time,,, any situation...........
soon will get update of Android ice cream sandwich :) so be happy.

about the size of the screen, this is 4.3″ best-in-class,,, u know why,,, because bigger than this will not easy to put on your pocket, headache... bigger than this probably will count in Tab category... am i right?

and the screen, sony' mobile BRAVIA engine,,, LED Backlit LCD,,, 1280x720 with ~342ppi pixel density...
now come to connectivity, DLNA, NFC, HDMI, USB-on-go, Wi-Fi and ofcourse Bluetooth 2.1,,, what you need more,,, i guess,,, nothing left :) have everything in this little device........
Design, is awesome,,, I liked the old Xperia arc's sleek design but this is also rock, looking next gen....

and last about the timescape interface.............. there is no other android or other OS can compete SE's interface,,, no one,,, yes, you got me right,,,, no one can compete SE's interface...........
once you feel it... you cant leave it... believe me... you cant stop your self to love it.....
finally the real phone for real people... go get this new Supercool,,, outstanding,,, unique,,, master piece mobile,,, the Sony Xperia S.....
You'll LUV IT, i KNEW IT.

Sony Launches Slim PS3 @ 299$

The rumors, as they usually are, were true: Sony formally announced a $299 slim PlayStation 3 on Tuesday. But while the slim PS3 will carry a larger hard drive than the current model, it will be priced identically to the current PlayStation, which contains a hard drive with less capacity.

The new charcoal black PlayStation 3 (CECH-2000A) will include a 120-Gbyte hard drive and will be priced at $299. It will be released worldwide on Sept. 1, save for Japan, which will receive it two days later. In Europe, it will be priced at 299 euros, and in Japan at 29,280 yen.

But Sony will also lower the price of the current PlayStation 3 to $299 as well. The problem is that the current PS3 carries just 80 Gbytes of storage, meaning that Sony will apparently push customers to the new model through the additional storage capacity, not by price.

The new PlayStation 3 was revealed via ads from Kmart and Sears earlier Tuesday.

While the new slim PS3 will maintain the same curved look as its predecessor, the new version contains a reworked internal design that has cut the PS3's thickness and weight by two thirds. It will measure 290 mm by 65 mm by 290 mm and weigh 3.2 kilograms, Sony said. The unit's power consumption has been cut by the same amount, to 250 watts, which should help cut fan noise, Sony said.

Sony also plans to introduce a new PS3 logo, also changing the formal name of the device from the PLAYSTATION 3 to "PlayStation 3".

On Sept. 1, the PlayStation 3 system software will be upgraded to version 3.0, adding a new "What's New" screen that provide shortcuts to new content. A "Bravia Sync" feature will also allow the game console's media playback features to be controlled by Sony Bravia TVs. Finally, Sony removed the "install other OS" feature from the options menu, essentially making the PS3 a closed system.  A stand will also be sold for $24, allowing users to align the PS3 on its vertical axis, Sony said. (story Link)

Sony, Best Buy Debut Custom 'Altus' Electronics

Sony and Best Buy announced Tuesday that they will partner on a new line of audio products, dubbed Altus.  The Altus line will include wireless music systems, as well as speakers and home theater products, the companies said. Most of the products are currently available for pre-order on sonystyle.com and will be in Best Buy stores in September. They will include two iPod docking systems.

The $700 ALT-SA31iR will include an iPod/iPhone docking station and two high-output wireless speakers. It will also feature an AM/FM tuner, and an S-AIR remote control with LCD display. That display will show album, artist and track information.

Its smaller counterpart, the AIR-SW10Ti, will include a compact docking station with two built-in speakers and a wireless subwoofer. It has a maximum output of 60 watts RMS and includes an infrared remote control and FM tuner. It will also be able to transmit wireless audio with other Altus and S-AIR products. It will retail for $400. Both products are available for pre-order and will be in Best Buy stores in September.

On the wireless PC front, Sony is introducing two multi-room packages.  The ALT-SA32PC includes an S-AIR transmitter that connects to your computer via USB and two high-output wireless speakers. The USB connection will stream audio from your PC to the speakers wirelessly. It will retail for $500.  The ALT-A33PC also has the USB S-AIR transmitter for wireless audio, but includes a universal receiver that will connect to other audio products via RCA outputs so users can stream to other music systems. It will retail for $200.

Altus will also feature the $350 ALT-SA34R Socket Speaker package, which includes wireless speakers that plug into any power outlet and are controllable via LCD remote. (full Story)

Sony E-Series Video Walkman

Sony announces that a new line of Walkman music players will be available in Europe.  If you love to have your very own OLED Walkman but you do not have the money to buy one, these entry-level video MP3 players might do the trick.

The Sony Walkman E-Series Video MP3 Players feature great looks and easy listening features that are packed with innovation that only Sony can provide.  The E-Series appear in slim and light body (measuring just 9.3 mm thin) in choice of black or red, with high-resolution QVGA 2-inch color LCD screen, and clear stereo and bass technologies that assures you with superb sound quality.

These MP3 players also support video file format conversion, allowing you to convert other video formats if you have a decoder software.  Its long battery life provides you with non-stop listening pleasure for up to 30 hours and up to 6 hours of video-viewing pleasure.

The Walkman E-series features the Clear Audio technology by Sony for high-quality and detailed sound.  It reduces leakage between left and right channels while delivering powerful, controlled bass without distortion.  This video MP3 player also has a 5-band equalizer that fine tunes your listening enjoyment, as well as a Dynamic Normalizer that balances volume levels between songs for that comfortable listening experience.  Sony also throws in a high-quality FM audio tuner that can be recorded at a touch of a button and enjoy your favorite songs wherever and whenever. (story Link with Thanks)

The 5 Most Interesting Mobile Failures of the Past 5 Years

In five years as PCMag.com's phone analyst, I've reviewed more than 500 products. Some have been excellent. Some have been awful. And some have been really interesting failures, the kinds of things that were just a twist or turn away from success. (Read my previous column for a list of true successes.)

Interesting failures are just as fun to review as fabulous successes, because they show ways the world didn't go. Maybe somewhere out there is an alternate reality where no parent would dare send her six-year-old to first grade without a phone to call Mom, or one where small startup companies can bring cool phones to the U.S. market, or one where geeks get a wireless carrier that fulfills all of their high-tech dreams.

None of those worlds are our world, though. That said, I found five products over the past five years that are peeking through from those alternate realities. Do you remember other fascinating failures? Tell me in Talkbacks below.

My top five failures:

Helio Kickflip. Helio was probably the biggest letdown of my five years in mobile. At first, it was supposed to be a new wireless carrier that brought super-powered Asian phones to geeks—hooray! Then they scrapped that whole idea in favor of bringing midrange Asian phones to some demographic they couldn't quite identify. Uh, yay. Its first phone, the Kickflip, didn't actually work. The Helio Ocean worked brilliantly, but by that point, the whole edifice was crumbling. To this day, no carrier has taken up the mantle of offering super-powered phones to geeks in the USA.

Curitel Identity. The first mass-market Linux phone, with fabulous personality-shifting technology and removable covers that actually contained software, the Identity was a perfect example getting slapped down by the way our market works. First, it took the inventors years to find a manufacturer that would build it. Then, when they sealed a deal with Korean manufacturer Curitel, the big wireless carriers wouldn't even look at their product. The Identity vanished, and nothing has ever been quite like it.

Sony Mylo (both the first and second versions). Sony's insane internal structure sometimes results in insane products. For instance: I assume Sony isn't allowed to make cell phones, because only Sony Ericsson can make cell phones. So Sony made the Mylo, which makes calls with Skype over Wi-Fi networks. The Mylo's complete failure shows that if you're selling a communications tool nowadays, it better connect everywhere—and that means having a cellular radio on board. (The iPod touch gets away with being Wi-Fi only, in my mind, by being an iPod and gaming device first.)

Motorola ROKR E1. The first iTunes phone was a hideous disaster and a warning to the rest of the industry that Apple doesn't play well with others. The ROKR started out late, with the launch so poorly managed that a bunch of press were shipped to Miami to see a phone that was yanked from the podium days before it was supposed to appear. When Apple actually launched the ROKR, it took away its thunder within minutes by introducing the iPod nano on its heels. The E1 itself was an uninspiring paste-job, slapping a crippled version of iTunes onto an existing midrange Motorola phone. It almost looked like Apple wanted this phone (and the whole idea of non-Apple products running iTunes) to fail.

LG Migo. For a brief moment in 2005, a bunch of manufacturers were selling cell phones to six year olds. This may sound crazy, but I think there are safety-related reasons for giving little kids simple devices with which they can call Mom or Dad. Apparently, I am the only person who thinks so, because the whole product category has basically vanished. Hysterical news reports from the UK about how cell phones will boil a small child's brain didn't help, even though these kiddy phones were meant to be used for only a few minutes at a time.  (story Link)

Sony BDP-S360 (Blu-ray)

Sony's BDP-S360 Blu-ray player ($299.99 list) is a fine example of getting more for less. It delivers even better picture quality than its predecessor, the excellent BDP-S350, yet the S360's price is $100 lower. A few sacrifices were made: You won't get the multimedia streaming features some other players in this price range offer, for example. But if you care about picture quality above all else, the S360 delivers.

Behind a fold-down door on the S360's glossy tinted face you'll find a centrally located tray mechanism, an information display, and basic playback controls. The player's forward-facing power and eject buttons in the upper corners of its face are much easier to operate than were the upward-angled buttons of the S350, especially when the unit is stacked under other components. The basic remote control is a step back from the S350's, which featured bigger buttons on a larger frame. Sony has also eliminated the eject button on the new remote, making it more likely you will smudge the player's glossy face with fingerprints when inserting and removing discs.

The S360 lacks the S-Video connection that was on the S350 but retains the HDMI and component video outputs that support HD video formats. Like the LG BD370, the S360 also features coaxial and optical digital audio outputs for greater flexibility when connecting to an amplifier that may not support HDMI audio. As with most Blu-ray players, the S360 settles for a composite video cable; manufacturers should include HDMI cables, instead, for superior picture quality and simplified setup.

An Ethernet port on the S360 allows simplified firmware updates over a broadband connection, and a USB port can be filled with 1GB or more of flash storage to enable support for BD-Live downloadable multimedia features. The cheap cost of flash memory nowadays should make this optional upgrade standard, but at least this player's USB port is hidden out of sight; the LG BD370 leaves the memory sticking out the front of the player.

Unlike other $300 players such as the Samsung BD-P1600 and Panasonic DMP-BD60, the S360 doesn't support Internet-based streaming of services such as Netflix's Watch Instantly (Samsung) or YouTube (Panasonic). The player supports JPEG and MP3 multimedia file playback, but only from a recorded disc (Blu-ray, CD, or DVD) and not also via USB like other players, including the aforementioned Panasonic and Samsung models.

At 41 seconds, the S360's Blu-ray load time is 2 seconds faster than the S350's. When the S360's Quick Start feature is enabled, it reduces the time the player needs to start up and eject its disc tray from 23 seconds to 7 seconds. The S360 is below average at quickly scrolling through long menus, however: It took 22 seconds, whereas the LG BD370 needed only 15 seconds.

The S360 is better at upconverting standard-definition DVDs than any other Blu-ray player I've tested. The challenging HQV Benchmark DVD showed that the S360 could minimize jagged-edge artifacts better than the Panasonic DMP-BD60. And the S360 nailed all of the benchmark's film cadence tests that check for preservation of detail when dealing with some of the more common frame rates used video production—including the rate of 24 frames per second (fps) in which most movies and prime-time TV shows are captured.

Most Blu-ray movies are stored in the 1080p24 format (1080p resolution, 24 fps), and the BDP-S360 can output this video format to a compatible display via HDMI. But unlike the Panasonic DMP-BD60, the S360 upconverts DVD movies not to 1080p24 but to the more commonly supported 1080p60 format that can introduce judder, which is noticeable in slow panning shots.

On my tests, the S360 displayed exceptionally detailed 1080p Blu-ray video, but it was slightly less capable with 1080i, the format commonly used for bonus material and some animated titles. The 1080i HD HQV Benchmark's video resolution test revealed some flicker that could result in a minor loss of detail; this has been a consistent issue with all Sony BD players that I've tested, including the PlayStation 3. (full Story)

K850i 5 MP Sony Ericsson Camera Phone Shoots And Scores

Image isn’t everything. Beyond a solid Cyber-shot-branded cam, this tidy 118 gram candy bar comes chock full of sweet, easy-to-master programs that let you edit, remix and publish sharp pics and vid clips on the fly. In minutes, we whipped up a 45-second, 1.7 MB video slideshow that looked surprisingly decent online at 240x320. But despite Bluetooth, adequate web browsing and RSS feeds, this pin-striped, 3G beauty isn’t picture perfect. Switching between the somewhat finicky partial touch screen and quasi-D-pad really took some getting used to. And the keypad’s tiny nubs could aggravate even the daintiest netizens of Thumb Tribe, USA. —Steven Leckart

WIRED Truly pocket-size; accelerometer allows quick-flips between landscape and portrait. Swift and seamless, on-the-go publishing to Blogger. Always-on headlight option for dim video shoots. BestPic takes rapid sequence of nine images — bonus: “best” recommendation is mostly right on. Super accessible microSD slot can hold up to 4GBs (perfect for those Cloverfield moments)

TIRED No optical zoom. Sluggish Auto Fix takes 30-45 seconds per pic. Snapping shots silences FM radio. No Wi-Fi, no GPS, no geocoded vaca pics. Neither a 3.5 mm nor a 2.5mm headhpone jack (better RFID that Sony FastPort set of earbuds!)

$500, sonystyle.com (story Link)

Sony to Exhibit Fuel Cell and Sugar-Powered Battery

During the second quarter of 2008, Sony introduced its hybrid fuel cell prototype that's so small it can fit in the middle of your palm. It was, of course, the mere core material of various devices Sony developed since then. At the FC EXPO 2009 event to be held at Tokyo Big Sight this end of February, Sony will be showing off what became of its fuel cell as well as its intriguing sugar-powered battery presented around October of 2008.

Sony's fuel cell, as was mentioned before, uses methanol as the main source of energy, supplemented by an auxiliary lithium-ion battery. Two fuel cell models exist - a portable external version, complete with a leather lanyard and a USB connection to charge gadgets and an internal model to be used like a conventional battery. Both iterations of the fuel cell can provide a cell phone up to a month's worth of charge. Meanwhile, Sony's updated sugar-powered battery exhibits an increase in output compared to the original version, but retains the same capacity to power devices with glucose-rich materials such as soda. For more pictures and videos of the Sony fuel cell and battery, check out Impress Japan. (story Link)

17" Unibody Apple MacBook Pro

Part media center, part workstation, the Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch has been revered over the years by a nation of professional photographers and film editors, not to mention average media folks who can't get enough of this thin-bodied cinematic wonder. When the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Dual Graphics) and the MacBook 13-inch (Aluminum) launched with their "unibody" enclosures—in each case, a heavily promoted slab of aluminum that rids the frame of all detachable parts—a "uni-seventeen-incher" was clearly on the way. The Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch (Unibody) ($2,799 direct) is still the lightest and the prettiest media center laptop to house a maximum-resolution screen, and the changes are significant.

You probably would assume that the MacBook Pro 17-inch (Unibody) is simply a bigger version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but leave it to Apple to throw us yet another curveball. Although the elimination of the FireWire 400 port was to be expected, the battery latches—indicative of a removable battery—were nowhere to be found. That's because Apple fitted this rig with a high-capacity lithium polymer battery, which—controversially—can't (or shouldn't) be removed by non-Apple employees. With this new battery, Apple is touting 7 to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge—but that all depends on what you're doing on the machine.

No other media center can even come close to this system's thinness. Its dimensions of 15.5 by 10.5 by 0.98 inches (HWD) make it seem half as thick as either the HP HDX18t or the Sony VAIO VGN-AW190. Apple's unibody aluminum enclosure has gained wide attention. Without question, the MacBook Pro 17-inch (Unibody)'s design is jaw-dropping; what makes it even more impressive is the sense of security its rigid frame provides. Yet Apple has still managed to produce the lightest laptop in its class. At 6.6 pounds, this system is' roughly 2 pounds lighter than the HDX18t (8.7 pounds) and the AW190 (8.4 pounds) and lighter even than the Dell Studio XPS 16 (6.9 pounds), which has a smaller widescreen.

I love it when a screen fills the lid's entire "canvas," leaving barely detectable strips as borders. The 17-inch widescreen is magnificent; it's about as close to an edge-to-edge screen as one can get. The Apple 15-inch (Dual Graphics) and the 13-inch (Aluminum) have thicker borders, so the screens don't fill up their inner lids' full dimensions the way the MacBook Pro 17-inch (Unibody)'s does. Although the new panel is still an LED screen, it's a slight departure from its predecessor's. Apple is claiming a greater color gamut—up to 60 percent greater—for the new screen. Unlike the RGB LED screens (or colored LEDs) that illuminate the Dell XPS16 and the Lenovo ThinkPad W700, the MacBook Pro 17-inch (Unibody)'s screen uses white LEDs. It's a brighter, more sophisticated panel than the one in the previous 17-inch MacBook, more in line with Apple's desktop Cinema displays. Apple offers both glossy and matte (antiglare) screen options. Along with the wider color gamut, an antiglare screen is an important selling point for the MacBook's target audience, especially for professional photographers who need to judge colors on the fly. Though there's only one resolution, it's the highest possible for such a display: 1,920 by 1,200. (story Link)

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

This camera sure took its sweet time coming to our labs. But now that it's here, let's see what you're getting in this attractive, low-cost package, and how well does it compare to the budget cameras today.

New users may want to keep our camera glossary open for explanation of some of the used terms.

Compared to the bite-sized consumer DSLR camera bodies we've been getting lately, the A200 seems a bit bigger at 131x99x71 mm and also somewhat heavier, weighing 572g. But considering the number of goodies that the A200 packs inside, the bulk is well justified.

The plastic body of the A200 seems surprisingly cheap. Though the build of the camera seemed sturdy and durable, the feel was just not good enough. That said the hand grip was very comfortable to use, even for longer durations. Some of the shots I tested with required me to wait patiently for the subject to move to the right position, and that was easily achieved with the comfort level of the hand grip.

The button layout seemed quite odd on the A200 with the power button placed at a considerably hard to access location i.e. the right above the LCD screen, to the left. Though I did get used to it after a while, I still found the placement very uncomfortable, especially when I only have one hand free.

In fact, the overall button placement on the camera is not optimized or even intended for single hand use. While the shutter release is placed on the right, the mode dial is placed on the left of the camera. The worst part is aperture size control in the A200, which need you to press down the AV button, right next to the viewfinder at the back, and use the shutter speed jog dial placed in front of the shutter release. This has got to be the most uncomfortable way to change the aperture size ever! (story Link)

Sony Launches MDR-NC7 Noise-cancelling Headphones

Sony has launched MDR-NC7 noise canceling headphones that feature a foldable and swivel design.

Claiming a battery life of approximately 50 hours, the haedphones have a dual-use capability that gives users the option to listen to music with or without the noise cancellation feature. The 30mm driver (Neodymium magnet), and an on/off switch for noise cancelling will allow someone to use the headphones even if the battery runs dry.
The headphones weigh approximately 134g (including AAA battery) and work on a 30 - 20,000Hz range with a maximum output of 100mW and a sensitivity of 102dB/mW while it is switched on and 100dB/mW in switch off mode. A plug adaptor is also supplied to connect directly to stereo or dual jack of in-flight music services.

Priced at Rs. 4,490, the Sony MDR-NC7 will be available at Sony owned stores, select Sony authorized dealers, as well as national retail partners across the country. (story Link)

4 New Panels SE Unveils For The Xperia X1

Sony Ericsson has recently unveiled four new panels for its Xperia X1 mobile phone. Available for download from mid-March 2009, the latest panels should help enhance the unique user interface of the X1 that enables users to customize the handset.

• A new CNN panel will allow users to constantly get updates of the latest news, sports, or weather and a host of CNN content including access to CNN’s  popular citizen journalism tool, ‘i-Report’. Users will also be able to browse information by category, personalize their experience or plug in their location and get instant updates for wherever they are in the world.  
• A unique Skype panel brings quick access to Skype on the X1, allowing users to get instant information on friends online. Users can easily browse through their contacts and call or IM them in just a couple of clicks, or customize their handsets using the evening, daylight or event based effects.
• A new Mytopia panel will let users play bingo and poker games with people around the world. Users can even collect virtual coins and improve their rank by winning live matches.  
• The specially developed ‘On the Road’ panel includes large touch icons and a simple layout. Offering direct access to your music playlists and tracks, navigation tools and easy to use call-handling, this panel will make a users driving convenient and entertaining while on the go.

According to Sony Ericsson, since its launch in Q4 2008, close to 420,000 panels have been downloaded onto X1 devices around the world with half a million unique hits for X1 panels on the Sony Ericsson Fun & Downloads service.

Catherine Cherry, Global Marketing Business Manager, Sony Ericsson commented, “We are very pleased with the success of the Xperia X1 and will continue to evolve the device to meet the consumer demand for a rich, individualized multimedia experience on their phones. By partnering with some of the world’s most popular content providers and applications we are giving consumers the opportunity to customize the device bringing the applications that they use most directly onto the desktop. Users can personalize the device to suite their mood and lifestyle making the mobile experience even more enjoyable and entertaining.”

As you may already know, the X1 comes pre-loaded with a range of panels including a Google search panel. Facebook and Windows Live panels are already available on www.sonyericsson.com/fun for download onto the Xperia X1. (story Link)

Review: HP EliteBook 2530P

It's rare when a laptop can pull off great battery life with either its standard battery or an extended one. The HP EliteBook 2530p ($2,099 direct)—a business ultraportable—has the battery capacity to last from a breakfast meeting to a late-afternoon powwow without sacrificing performance. Its long battery life can be attributed, in varying degrees, to the low-voltage CPU and the solid-state drives (SSD). I needed a laptop that was light, durable, and had a full-size keyboard for a weeklong business trip, so I brought the review unit of the 2530p with me. (Its internal optical drive didn't hurt either, since two DVD flicks came for the ride.) Suffice it to say that the 2530p delivered in spades.

With the EliteBook line, HP has come a long way with its business laptops. I'm used to the bland, conservative attire of Compaq-branded frames, so it's nice to see that the 2530p has the looks to go with its brains. It's completely surrounded by anodized aluminum, a moldable metal that's both durable and sleek. Its looks are more appealing than those of the Lenovo ThinkPad X200 and the X301. With a thickness of 1.1 inches, the 2530p is not as thin as the Sony VAIO VGN-Z590. At 3.7 pounds, it's heavier than the Z590 (3.2 pounds) and the same weight as the Lenovo X200. Even with the standard battery and an optical drive, the 2530p is pleasantly light and can minimize the hassle of an airport security check, since it's easy to pull out of and return to your bag.

The typing experience a laptop offers is crucial for me as a writer, and I didn't miss a beat with the 2530p's full-size keyboard. The number "1" key is about half the size it should be, but every other key is standard size. If I had to rank the typing experience, I'd say that the Lenovo X200 is easily the best, the 2530p a close second, and the Sony Z590's uniquely styled keys, third. The 2530p uses dual pointing devices: a pointing stick and a touchpad. The pointing stick is too stiff for my taste, but the touchpad is both responsive and appropriately sized. Along with those of the ThinkPad X200 and the Dell Latitude E4300, the mouse buttons are the quietest and the least resistive in the industry.

The 16:10 format, 12-inch LCD widescreen is acceptable for office productivity, but I found the 13-inch one on the Sony Z590 better equipped for viewing movies and photos. Even with a bigger screen, the Z590 is at least half a pound lighter, as well, thanks to its carbon-fiber frame. If a bigger screen is a must, the HP EliteBook 6930p has the same exact look and a 14-inch screen. A matte screen is another business feature of the 2530p and the ThinkPad X200—it offsets any glare coming from a bright light source. (full Story)

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Sony’s Lifestyle PC VGN-588EQ

It was more than two years ago that Mike Abary, senior vice president at Sony, reached into his inner suit pocket and pulled out the Sony VAIO VGN-UX180P. At the time, he called this handheld PC, which ran a full-blown version of Windows XP, "an achievement in ingenious design." Little did he know he'd be pulling the same stunt again at a quaint hotel in Manhattan, where I was one of a handful of journalists invited to preview Sony's take on the netbook revolution. He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a clamshell the length of two UX180Ps, not even an inch thick. This, as he described it, is Sony's answer to the surging netbook market, only it's not being classified as a netbook, it's not an update to the UX180P, and the intended audience, interestingly enough, is women. It's the Sony VAIO VGN-588EQ ($1,199 direct), better known as the Sony Lifestyle PC.

The Lifestyle PC is unlike anything you've seen before, in large part because of the 8-inch LED widescreen, the first of its kind. Even from afar, you may feel a tingling sensation as soon as you lay eyes on it, and your first instinct is to pick it up. Sony handed me a review unit while I was at the CES 2009 show in Las Vegas, allowing me to use it in multiple scenarios. I really don't want to call this a netbook, but there's no other way to classify this gorgeous device. It runs the Intel Atom platform, it's inexpensive for a Sony-branded laptop, and the keyboard is undersized—all netbook symptoms. On the other hand, it's so much more than a netbook. It weighs half as much as one and packs in features like 3G wireless, a pre-boot Linux environment, and a high-resolution screen. Although the Lifestyle PC is now at the pinnacle of design engineering, performance is an issue when Windows Vista is the only operating system offered, and the price is over $1,000 with the solid-state drive option. Based on design alone, though, I think Sony can create a huge following with this pseudo-netbook.

Even though there are no ties between them, the Lifestyle PC conjures up images of Intel's Moorestown concept device. It weighs a mere 1.4 pounds, only 0.2 pound heavier than the original UX180P. And it measures 9.7 by 4.7 by 0.8 inches, which is about the length of the ASUS EeePC 1002HA but only half its depth. It fits nicely in the inner pocket of a suit jacket or a Coach clutch bag, and is thin enough that you can slide two of them into a manila envelope. Its look is unique, and its design intentions are clear: Sony wants to dissociate the Lifestyle PC from the likes of the MSI Wind, the ASUS EeePC, and the Acer Aspire One—some of the more popular netbooks in the market. In my opinion, it has successfully done so. (full Story)

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Sony Cybershot G3: World's First Camera You Can Surf the Web On

The Cybershot G3 is a camera so special Sony Sir Howard Stringer himself did the honors: It's the world's first Wi-Fi camera with a built-in browser.

END Besides stealing your neighbor's Wi-Fi, it has free access to any AT&T hotspot until 2012, but then it won't matter since we're all going to die then anyway when the world ends. It's worded so it might mean you can only use AT&T spots for free to hit Sony's Easy Upload Home Page (which provides quick access to sites like Shutterfly, Picasa and YouTube), not furries.meetup.com. But we'll find out. Oddly unmentioned in the list of supported services is Flickr.

Still, it doesn't really matter if it has a web browser, if the browser can't render itself out of ASCII paper bag—we're hoping it's a WebKit dealio 'cause that would make it a quick call from the sidelines. But we're not holding our breath on that (we are talking Sony, after all), so we'll have to grab some hands on time to see how well it handles the real internet. Sony's seeing this more as a flexible, fast way to dump and check your photos and videos online, direct from your camera, not so much as a way to compulsively watch YouTube videos or read Gizmodo, even though that's exactly what we want, and will try to do, practicalities aside.

Oh hey! I think there's a camera somewhere in there too. 10 megapixel sensor with 4x optical zoom, but it's got 4GB of storage built-in (optional expansion is Memory Stick only, grrr), with a 921,600-dot, 3.5-inch touchscreen and photo browsing software integrated. Otherwise, it's got typical Sony features like Intelligent Scene Recognition (automatically picks the best automatic scene setting, automatically), Face Detection, Smile Shutter (it snaps when people smile) and Dynamic Range Optimizer, which automagically balances contrast and detail.

It's available rightnowomg for $500. (full Story)

Major CE Makers Pledge to Support Yahoo Widgets

Samsung, LG, Sony and Vizio have all pledged to support the Yahoo Widget Channel technology originally launched last September. But only Toshiba will be using Intel's media processor inside its TVs.

Las Vegas (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc unveiled on Wednesday a list of partners to aid its push to bring the Internet and television together, hoping their joint effort will finally connect with consumers.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Yahoo said it has forged deals with companies including Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, LG Electronics Inc, Sony Corp and Vizio, which will make high-definition TVs that support Yahoo's online service.

Ever since the dawn of the Internet Age, tech companies have been promising to bring "convergence" of the online and TV universes, but those efforts have failed to take off with consumers who have found such products difficult to use.

The new TVs announced on Wednesday will be in the market as early as the spring and will support widgets—small Internet applications—that run alongside broadcast TV content, but not over it.

The applications can be used for a wide array of Web activities, like watching videos on Google Inc's YouTube.com, social networking on News Corp's MySpace.com, tracking stocks and sports teams, buying and selling on eBay, messaging friends using Twitter, or using Yahoo's own photo-sharing website Flickr.

The widgets will allow viewers more interaction with the programs they're watching, Yahoo said. There will also be applications based on Yahoo-branded services such as Yahoo Finance.

Yahoo, which has lagged behind larger rival Google in the Web search market, will use the technology as a new avenue to sell advertising.

In an interview ahead of CES, Patrick Barry, vice president of connected TV at Yahoo, said TV "is still top of mind for advertisers," the place where people spend the most time. (full Story)

Hands On with Sony's Answer to the Netbook

It was over two years ago that Mike Abary, senior vice president at Sony, reached into his inner suit pocket and pulled out the Sony VAIO VGN-UX180P. At the time he called this handheld PC, which ran a full blown version of Windows XP, "an achievement in ingenious design." Little did he know he'd be pulling the same stunt again recently at a quaint hotel in Manhattan, where I was one of the few journalists invited to preview Sony's take on the netbook revolution.

Abary reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a clamshell the length of two UX180Ps, but not even an inch thick. He described it as Sony's answer to the surging netbook market—only it's not being classified as a netbook, it's not an update to the UX180P, and the intended audience, interestingly enough, is women. It's called the Sony VAIO P-Series or simply, the Sony Lifestyle PC.

Even though there are no ties between them, the Lifestyle PC conjures up images of Intel's Moorestown concept device. It weighs a mere 1.4 pounds, only two-tenths of a pound heavier than the original UX180P. And it's about the length of the ASUS eeePC 1002HA but only half its depth, looking like an oversized TV remote with a lid. Its look is unique, and its design intentions are clear: Sony wants to dissociate the Lifestyle PC from the MSI Wind, the Asus eeePCs, and the Acer Aspire One—some of the more popular netbooks in the market. In my opinion, it has successfully done so.

The 8-inch LED screen is unlike anything you'll see on a netbook, or a laptop for that matter. In order to maintain its physical dimensions, the vertical height of the screen had to be compressed, making the screen appear extraordinarily wide. It's clearly smaller than the 10-inch screens found on the Wind and the 1002HA, but the screen resolution is what makes everything gel.

Practically every netbook uses a 1,024 X 600 resolution; the Lifestyle PC's native resolution is 1,600 X 768. Such a resolution can fill up the screen, for instance, with three file Explorer windows without any overlap. There's even a Windows Arrangement button (next to the mouse buttons) that will neatly tile your application windows together. Increasing the resolution of such a small screen could cause problems with text, but text and icon sizes were tolerable and the potential of watching a video while Microsoft Word and Powerpoint are fully opened on each side is very compelling. (full Story)

Dell Studio XPS 16

Dell wants you to know that its latest Studio XPS line brings with it a level of prestige—a refined segment for customers who seek luxury and style. The Dell Studio XPS 16 ($1,804 direct) accomplishes just that, succeeding the XPS M1530 as Dell's new bad-boy media center. Seeing how every laptop maker is putting in the same processors and advertising 4GB of memory, home-theater features, and big screens, Dell decided to raise the bar with the XPS 16. Design is its biggest differentiator, as it uses not just one but a number of the hottest techniques in manufacturing. Its display is none too shabby as well. Photographers and professionals can reap the benefits of the RGB LED widescreen and the 1080p resolution without paying outrageous prices for them. For this, the XPS 16 reigns as our new Editors' Choice for the media center category, trumping the HP HDX16t.

The lid is clearly one of the main attractions. It takes its cues from trendsetters like the aluminum Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Dual Graphics), the leather-clad ASUS U2E-A2B, and the HP HDX16t with its polished exterior, mixing a little bit from each of these laptops in a manner reminiscent of an exotic drink: one part black leather trimming, one part aluminum accent, and two parts lacquered top. The lacquered part is defined by a process called In-Mold Decoration, similar to the one perfected in the HDX16t, which allows different designs to be placed between the glossy coating and the magnesium alloy skeleton.

At 6.9 pounds, the XPS 16 is not an ideal companion for road warriors, although it's more portable than the Gateway MC7803u (7.7 pounds) and the Acer Aspire 6930G-6723 (7.2 pounds). It's a smidge heavier than the HDX16t, and for good reason: The XPS 16 uses a big 85-Wh (nine-cell) battery, as opposed to the HP's 56-Wh (six-cell) option. The XPS 16 has its own six-cell option, which would bring its weight down to 6.5 pounds, thus making it as light as the Sony VAIO VGN-FW198UH (6.4 pounds). I'll get to why the nine-cell battery is the best option a little later. (full Story)

CES 2009: Sony’s VAIO ‘pocketbook’, ‘Webbie’ HD camcorder, OLED prototypes [day 2]

Sony made their grand debut just prior to Steve Ballmer’s keynote, and boy, they know how to put on a show. Here’s what’s notable (I’ll leave the many Bravia announcements to Home Theater blogger Sean Portnoy, who was in attendance with me and will post tonight).

VAIO P-Series Lifestyle PC

About the size of a woman’s wallet (or a man’s wallet for a suit), this 1.4 lb. Netbook-that-resembles-a-wallet (the P is for Passport) was the biggest announcement. It supports integrated WAN, LAN (incl. Verizon 3G) and Bluetooth, and packs GPS that doesn’t need the Internet (in the U.S. and Canada). The screen is a high-res (1600×768), 8-inch ultrawide LCD intended for viewing entire web pages on one screen, eliminating horizontal scrolling. Oh, and it comes loaded with Windows Vista.

It comes in five colors (red, green, white and two shades of black) and will retail for $900. It’s available now for pre-order and will be at select retailers next month.

Digital Photo Frames

Two new models: First, the 10-inch DPF-X1000, which is 800×480 SVGA LCD (15:9 aspect ratio) and has 2GB internal memory, HDMI output, an alarm clock, and auto dimmer, white balance correction, and is Bluetooth ready. Second, the 10-inchDPF-V100, which includes all the previous stats but has 1GB of internal memory.

Both will be available in March, for $300 and $250, respectively.

HDR-XR520V 240 GB HD HDD Handycam camcorder

The barnburner: Full 1920×1080 HD video and 12 megapixel still image capability. Features a large capacity 240GB HD that holds 101 hours of HD video in LP mode, back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor for low light, photo and video geotagging via a built-in GPS receiver and NAVTEQ digital maps, image stabilization, “Smile Shutter” for photos even when recording video, and face detection. This bad boy will be available in March for $1500.

HDR-CX100 HD Flash Handycam camcorder

For those who prefer flash camcorders, Sony announced this as well. Has Full 192×1080 HD video and 4 megapixel still image capability, plus 8GB embedded memory expandable via Memory Stick PRO Duo. Packs 10x optical Carl Zeiss Vaio-Tessar zoom with Steady Shot up front. Comes in three colors — red, black, silver — and includes Smile Shutter and face detection. Will be available in March for $600.

MHS-PM1 “Webbie” HD MP4 camcorder

Available tonight for $170, this is Sony’s YouTube-friendly device. It captures HD MPEG-4 video and 5 megapixel stills, has a 4 ounce body, comes equipped with PMB Portable software for quick online upload, and has a rotating swivel lens. Expandable storage via Memory Stick PRO Duo, and of course, comes in three colors: eggplant, orange and silver.

The company also had two more things to note: OLED prototypes in various sizes (expect this tech to develop further) and a “major” announcement tomorrow. Stay tuned. (story Link)

Pharos Announces New Unlocked GPS Smartphone

LAS VEGAS – Pharos on Tuesday at CES 2009 announced the company's latest unlocked GPS smartphone, the Traveler 137. The Windows Mobile Professional phone is distinguished by a large 3.5-inch, 800x480 touch screen and support for both AT&T and T-Mobile's high-speed 3G networks.

Pharos makes both standalone GPSes and GPS smartphones, and unlike many other manufacturers the company has decided to go it alone by offering unlocked phones that work on AT&T and T-Mobile. Most unlocked phones don't work with T-Mobile's 3G network, which runs on the unusual 1700-MHz band. But the Traveler 137 does, delivering fast Internet speeds on T-Mobile as well as on AT&T.

It actually works better on T-Mobile than on AT&T: with tri-band 1700/1900/2100 3G, it works with all of T-Mobile's and foreign 3G systems, but misses any AT&T 3G cities using the 850-MHz rather than the 1900-MHz band. In those cities, it has to drop to 2G.

The Traveler 137 is a powerful, slab-style Windows Mobile Professional 6.1 handset with a 528-MHz processor and a killer list of features. To hit the Internet, the phone supports both HSDPA 7.2 with HSUPA and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g. (That means its cellular networking is faster than what either AT&T or T-Mobile have on offer today.) The 137 has GPS, of course, along with Bluetooth 2.1, an FM radio, and dual cameras: a 3-megapixel one on the back and a VGA one on the front, for taking pretty self-portraits. The 256 Mbytes of RAM and 512 MB of Flash is supplemented by a MicroSD card slot supporting up to 16 GB memory cards.

The phone's most visible feature, though, is its screen, a 3.5-inch, 800x480 panel. That's the same size as the iPhone's screen, but more than double the resolution. Only the Sony Xperia X1 matches this resolution on a phone, and that phone costs $200 more than the Traveler 137.

Since Pharos is a GPS company, the company focused on including top-notch GPS software on the Traveler 137. The phone's Smart Navigator software downloads maps while the phone has cellular coverage, so you can still use it to navigate when you're out of phone range. The phone will come with U.S. maps for free; Canadian and European maps are available at an extra charge.

"Most navigation solutions for smartphones only work when within a carrier coverage zone," said James Oyang, Pharos' president, in a statement. "We've equipped the Traveler 137 with our hybrid navigation system that follows you wherever you want to go and charges you only when you actually use it." (full Story)